St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-29
Evening Services.

The North church was filled III the
evening the services being free to the
general public. Rev. G. NJ. Lamson
presided and after brief Introductory
remarks read the Odd Psalm and led in
prayer. The first speaker of the even
ing was Rev. Mr.. Pettee of the Japan
ese mission who began his remarks
with a very happy reference to the
yacht race of the day before, the con-
test between the Volunteer and Thistle
serving to illustrate the encourage
ments of missionary work. He then
spoke of his field of labor, the Island
empire of Japan with an area l3 times
as large as Vermont, a population ITO
times as large, and a latitude which
compares with that of northern New
FOundland at one extreme and south
ern Florida at the other. The govern
ment of Japan still hold the reins, has
directed every reform of the last few
years and is progressive. The people
comprise two divisions, military and
social, and the latter is again divided
into three classes, the farmers, artisans
and merchants. Reference was made
to the work of the Roman Catholic
missionaries between two and three
centuries ago the influence of which is
still apparent among the people, and
when the Protestant missionaries went
into Japan in 1859 they found the OPP
position of the government to the old
form of Christianity transferred to the
new. The work has progressed slow
ly. At the end of five years. labor
there was but one convert to Christi
anity at the end of IL years there
were but 10, but at the end of Is years
there are 10000 converts and 1000
churches. Among the special reasons
urged why the work in Japan should
be pushed forward just now were not
ed, W Japan is open (2) the contest
is on and the work is well in hand,
and, (3) the urgent necessity of laying
strong foundations lest Japan, in its
desire to be counted among the sister
hood of Christian nations may be salts
fed with becoming nOminally Christian
without seeking the true Christian life.
The address was interspersed with in
tetesting anecdotes and bits of person
al experience.
Miss Porter of the North China mis-
sion was next very happily introduced
by Mr.. LamsOn and gave very graph
ic picture of some phases of mission
work in China, especially among the
women. China, she believes, is not
only nroot uumariooIl,, hut 0root in
the forces that make nation. Their
are $4,000 protesting Christians in
China and the thought the speaker
desired to press home on her hearers
was the magnitude of the work in gen
eral and of the special value of indi-
vidual work. But of particular inter-
est was the story Miss Porter told OF
the condition of the women in the
smaller villages of China where she
labored, the glimpses of the work in
it's beginnings when the poor women
felt there was no hope for them, and
| the inexpressible pleasure and salts
| faction it was to see the new lighl
gradually coming into their faces and
| the new life into their lives. rhe Sc
cluded life of the Chinese country wo-
man, so often referred to with 80 much
sorrow by outsiders, and their poverty
Miss Porter considers the safeguard!
that kind Providence has put abou
their lives. In conclusion she spoke
of the great need that friends of mis-
sion exercise patience in regard to the
work in China. If progress seems slow
to the friends at home, they must re-
member that the laborers in the field
are willing to continue the work ever
though it be at times discOuraging
The need of great patience was urged
The address was very interesting from
beginning to end, and the anecdotes
and illustrations very happily told.
In closing the evenings session Mr.
Lainson spoke briefly in relation t.
the value of the meetings to the people
of st. JOhnsbury. The singing by the
North church choir and ladies' quar-
tette added much to the pleasure anG
interest of the meeting.